Rethinking Social Technologies: Opportunities for Research to Inform Governance, Democracy, and AI

Core Concepts

Researchers have significant opportunities to rethink the design, governance, and impact of social technologies to address widespread problems and promote democratic principles.

Abstract

The report presents key themes and opportunities for future research on social technologies:

Rethinking Social Platforms:

Researchers can help inform the governance of social platforms through social, technical, and legal approaches.
Researchers can shape the trajectory of emerging decentralized social platforms.
Researchers can develop methods to measure and assess the "health" of social platforms and online communities.

Social Technologies and Democracy:

Researchers can design and study social technologies to encourage democratic principles and protect against threats.
The research community should support and advocate for researchers working on societally important, yet threatened, research.

Social Technologies and AI:

Researchers should investigate using AI for prosocial ends in online communities.
Researchers can design social platforms that recognize and address the presence of AI-generated content.
Researchers can help safeguard social data from inappropriate use by AI systems.

Research Access and Practice:

Researchers should study diverse online communities, not just large platforms, for data access opportunities.
Researchers should explore shared infrastructure and practices for data collection, sharing, and experimental work.

Impact Beyond Academia:

The research community can shift incentive structures to recognize high-impact, large-scale, and community-centered work.
Researchers can explore new models of collective research efforts beyond individual projects.
Researchers have an opportunity to impact policy related to social technologies.

Stats

"Social technologies dramatically shape the fabric of our everyday lives, from the information we consume to the people we interact with to the foundations of our culture and politics."
"While the benefits of social technologies are well-documented, the harms, too, have cast a long shadow."
"To address widespread problems like harassment, disinformation, information access, and mental health concerns, we need to rethink the foundations of how social technologies are designed, sustained, and governed."

Quotes

"Researchers can significantly inform the trajectory of emerging decentralized social platforms, over the near- and long-term."
"Researchers should investigate and design mechanisms to use AI for prosocial ends in online communities."
"The research community can increase the potential for impact by shifting incentive structures to recognize diverse kinds of work and contributions, particularly high-impact, large-scale, and/or community-centered work."

Key Insights Distilled From

The Future of Research on Social Technologies: CCC Workshop Visioning Report

by Mota... at arxiv.org 04-18-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.10897.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How can researchers collaborate with policymakers and industry to ensure social technologies are designed and governed in the public interest?

Researchers can collaborate with policymakers and industry by actively engaging in policy discussions and providing evidence-based recommendations. They can participate in advisory committees, workshops, and consultations to share their expertise on the societal impacts of social technologies. By establishing strong relationships with policymakers and industry stakeholders, researchers can ensure that their insights are considered in the decision-making process.
Furthermore, researchers can conduct studies and produce reports that highlight the potential risks and benefits of different design and governance approaches for social technologies. By disseminating their findings through various channels, such as academic publications, policy briefs, and public presentations, researchers can raise awareness and inform policy discussions.
Collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry can also involve the development of guidelines and best practices for the responsible design and use of social technologies. By working together, these stakeholders can create frameworks that prioritize user safety, privacy, and well-being while promoting innovation and economic growth in the industry.

What are the potential unintended consequences of decentralized social platforms, and how can researchers address them?

Decentralized social platforms offer opportunities for increased user autonomy, privacy, and censorship resistance. However, they also pose potential unintended consequences that researchers need to address. One major concern is the proliferation of harmful content, such as misinformation, hate speech, and extremist ideologies, on decentralized platforms. Without centralized moderation and governance mechanisms, it can be challenging to effectively monitor and mitigate the spread of harmful content.
Another unintended consequence of decentralized platforms is the fragmentation of online communities and the creation of echo chambers. Users may self-select into like-minded groups, leading to polarization and reduced exposure to diverse perspectives. This can exacerbate social divisions and hinder constructive dialogue and collaboration.
Researchers can address these unintended consequences by developing innovative solutions for content moderation, community management, and user engagement on decentralized platforms. They can explore the use of AI and machine learning algorithms to detect and mitigate harmful content, as well as design interventions to promote civil discourse and diversity of viewpoints.
Additionally, researchers can collaborate with platform developers, policymakers, and civil society organizations to establish industry standards and regulatory frameworks that promote responsible behavior and accountability on decentralized social platforms. By conducting interdisciplinary research and engaging with diverse stakeholders, researchers can contribute to the development of sustainable and inclusive decentralized ecosystems.

How can research on social technologies be better integrated with other domains, such as political science, sociology, and psychology, to gain a more holistic understanding of their societal impact?

Integrating research on social technologies with other domains, such as political science, sociology, and psychology, is essential for gaining a comprehensive understanding of their societal impact. Researchers can foster interdisciplinary collaborations by organizing joint workshops, conferences, and research projects that bring together experts from different fields to explore common research questions and methodologies.
By incorporating insights from political science, researchers can analyze the political implications of social technologies, such as their influence on public opinion, political participation, and democratic processes. Sociological perspectives can help researchers understand how social technologies shape social interactions, identity formation, and community dynamics in online spaces.
Psychological research can provide valuable insights into the cognitive and emotional effects of social technologies on individuals, such as their mental health, well-being, and behavior. By integrating psychological theories and methods into social technology research, researchers can develop interventions and design principles that promote positive user experiences and mitigate potential harms.
Furthermore, researchers can leverage mixed-method approaches, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques, to capture the complex and multifaceted nature of social technologies' impact on society. By collaborating with experts from diverse disciplines, researchers can generate new knowledge, theories, and practical recommendations that address the interdisciplinary challenges and opportunities posed by social technologies.